I currently have a 2wd pickup with the 4 speed, however I want to up the driveability a bit and swap to a 5 speed. Im just looking for some general information on what trans I should look for, and some things I would need to do this. Thanks in advance!

 

Have you driven one with a 5 speed? The reason I ask is I had an 87 2WD with the 4 speed and I LOVED it. It was a blast to drive compared to another with the 5 speed. It still got great gas mileage. I miss that truck.

 

same here with a 90, 5th gear would be good on the Highway but the low end with a 4 speed was better around town.

 

What's your rear end gears? Most 4 speeds came with 3.07 gears which is how they snuck a bit more gas mileage out of the 4 speed manual transmissions compared to 3.58 gears in the 5 speeds.

 

Besides 1/4 mile drag strip racers, this is the first place I've ever heard people saying a trans with fewer gears is better.

 

When I bought my 87 from the dealership, there were two I could choose from. Used trucks, not new. I told the salesman I would rather have the 5 speed. He said it's definitely my choice to make and he said drive the 4 speed before I do. It was like driving a hot rod compared to the 5 speed. I asked what was done to it since it was a used truck. He said it was factory original and they wouldn't be selling a modified truck .They'd wholesale those out. Both were 22R carbureted 2WD base models. Vinyl bench seats, vinyl floor mat, no radio or A/C. I needed a cheap commuter for work with good gas mileage. It had 14" wheels I think. Cheap to buy tires for. It was a snappy little truck and most people that rode in it or drove it didn't believe it was stock.

So based on my personal experience, in this case I think the 4 speed was the better option. Generally speaking, I'm not saying less gears are better than more gears. I don't want the OP to put a bunch of work and money in his truck only to be disappointed.......possibly. I think he or she should do what they want with their truck.

Unfortunately nobody answered the question of what trans to swap in. I can only guess a 5 speed from another same generation 2WD truck. Maybe get the driveshaft and anything else that's different from the 4 speed.

If the OP comes back I hope they tell us what they decide.

 

For an objective look, here's what I found. Let me know if I've got the wrong transmissions.

4sp W42

• First Gear: 3.579:1
• Second Gear: 2.081:1
• Third Gear: 1.397:1
• Fourth Gear: 1.000:1
• Reverse: -4.399:1

5sp W56

• First Gear: 3.954:1
• Second Gear: 2.141:1
• Third Gear: 1.384:1
• Fourth Gear: 1.00:1
• Fifth Gear: 0.85:1
• Reverse: -4.091:1

Gears 1 and 2 are a bit deeper on the 5sp. Gears 3 and 4 are effectively the same. Maybe with the 4sp felt like it drove better because the shallower first two gears had a larger speed range? In theory, just by gearing, the 5sp should feel like it's got more on take off. Did the 4sp you drove have the same size tires and wheels as the 5sp you drove? What else could make the 5sp feel less drivable?

 

Baller it was a LONG time ago so I don't remember what they had for tires. I do know both were factory stock. Are the transmissions you listed for a 2WD ?

My wife and I have owned a bunch of Toyota trucks over the years. So have my kids after they grew up. Most had 22R or RE engines and 5 speeds. My wife had an auto in her 86 4Runner. Anyway, they ALL remember that little 87 as a hot rod. I sold it to my brother in law and he remembers it as being unusual compared to other Toyotas he owned. He regrets selling it.

I always suspected something wasn't stock. The salesman said it was???

I hope the OP comes back to this thread.

 

If the OP is still following this thread, I've got a W55 I took out of my 86 when I converted the truck over to 4wd